Project

We would like to build a beverage coaster that has weight sensing capabilities and the ability to transmit the data to some sort of central node. The use case for this idea is to transmit the data to a centralized location, allowing restaurant owners/servers to keep track of how much of a drink has been consumed thus far and how much is left to be consumed. This creates opportunities for analytics to be done on this data set for the restaurant owners to learn/function more optimally; whether it be by optimizing the frequency of service or any other avenue.

The challenges for this idea are getting both the sensor and RFID microchip incorporated into a usable coaster, not only in terms of appearance, but also size. Besides the challenge of scale, we need a reliable power source that can power the RFID microchip, weight sensor & logic board.

In terms of functionality, a challenge we may face can come in form of data we receive and how to process it. Since various cups have difference weights and densities, figuring out a method to detect accurately, through our weight sensor, volume of liquid or lack of can be challenging.

Our baseline expectation of this project will be to have a functional pressure sensor that streams data readings at a reasonable (based on use case) frequency to a hub that allows for some level of analytics/wiser decision making. Assuming we successfully build this out, we would like to add a button feature that can serve as a waiter/waitress caller system.

Smart Frisbee

Ryan Moser, Blake Yerkes, James Younce

Featured Project

The idea of this project would be to improve upon the 395 project ‘Smart Frisbee’ done by a group that included James Younce. The improvements would be to create a wristband with low power / short range RF capabilities that would be able to transmit a user ID to the frisbee, allowing the frisbee to know what player is holding it. Furthermore, the PCB from the 395 course would be used as a point of reference, but significantly redesigned in order to introduce the transceiver, a high accuracy GPS module, and any other parts that could be modified to decrease power consumption. The frisbee’s current sensors are a GPS module, and an MPU 6050, which houses an accelerometer and gyroscope.

The software of the system on the frisbee would be redesigned and optimized to record various statistics as well as improve gameplay tracking features for teams and individual players. These statistics could be player specific events such as the number of throws, number of catches, longest throw, fastest throw, most goals, etc.

The new hardware would improve the frisbee’s ability to properly moderate gameplay and improve “housekeeping”, such as ensuring that an interception by the other team in the end zone would not be counted as a score. Further improvements would be seen on the software side, as the frisbee in it’s current iteration will score as long as the frisbee was thrown over the endzone, and the only way to eliminate false goals is to press a button within a 10 second window after the goal.